Microrobot's UBOT cleaning robot

Korean manufacturer Microrobot's UBOT cleaning robot seems to have its sights set clearly on the ever-growing Roomba army (and from the looks of it, may have already eaten one). Unlike the Roomba, however, the UBOT is only intended for use on hard floors, with a 60W vacuum to suck up the dirt, although it lacks the Scooba's squeegee-action, instead using an advanced cloth-dispensing system to pick up what the vacuum misses (kinda like a RoboSwiffer). Still, it should be able to find its way around your place on its own and avoid any obstacles, even if it might not fit under much of your furniture. A higher-end model is also available that features what Microrobot calls a "2D barcode navigation system," which promises to clean rooms more efficiently -- how, exactly, we're not sure. The UBOT does look to have the Roomba beat in one important area though, featuring a voice guide to inform you of its conditions in a "soft and calm tone." Sound familiar?

[Via AVING.net]

[Phillip Lamb @ Aug 28th 2006 6:41PM]

I'm sorry, Dave.. I can't clean that.

[Cade @ Aug 28th 2006 6:42PM]

I for one welcome our gigantic Microsoft vacume overlords.

[teo @ Aug 28th 2006 6:57PM]

"Please wait 25 seconds. UBOT is rebooting"

[michael @ Aug 28th 2006 7:13PM]

.......I for one welcome our gigantic Microsoft vacume overlords."Please wait 25 seconds. UBOT is rebooting"... there seems to be an outbreak of dyslexia going round - Microrobot != Microsoft...

[kolthim @ Aug 28th 2006 7:14PM]

I thought the title said Microsoft's cleaning robot. That would suck (not in the good vacuum way). I could just see starting it up and coming back a few hours later to find your entire floor covered in fatal viruses or worse...BLUE FLOOR OF DEATH!!!

[DarkFader @ Aug 28th 2006 7:29PM]

Micro*o*t *BO* :)

[mongo @ Aug 28th 2006 10:18PM]

soft calm tone.... sounds like the fucking msoffice paperclip.

[tubetube @ Aug 29th 2006 2:06AM]

I would prefer a vacuum cleaner that would just shut up.

[Todd @ Aug 29th 2006 5:29AM]

[ calm, soft tone ]"...I think you should take a stress pill and think things over...."

[guy2939393 @ Aug 29th 2006 7:18AM]

How typical of Microsoft, it's bigger, takes more resources, and cost more. Probably will brake down more often.

[Jared @ Aug 29th 2006 7:36AM]

It is made by Microrobot not Microsoft, is it really too much trouble to read before commenting. Granted, it is big and goofy enough to look like something Microsoft would come up with, but they didn't make it. I think maybe some people would benefit by having robot overlords.

[1337 @ Aug 29th 2006 2:09PM]

LOL it weights 20lbs, takes 4 hours to charge, and runs for a MAX of 100 minutes... my roomba is 1/2 the size, lighter, changes faster and runs longer.

Unless this thing costs 1/2 the price they won't sell very well.

ps. my rommba does carpet too ;-)

[thorn_stevens @ Aug 29th 2006 5:17PM]

Yet another dud of a Roomba clone. When you can buy a Roomba for $105, why would you buy a fat honker like that one?
I have a blog all about Roomba and its cousin, Scooba:
http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com
My Roomba Buyers Guide is here:
http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com/2006/03/roomba-buyers-guide.html
-Thorn

[thorn_stevens @ Aug 29th 2006 5:17PM]

And, by the way, it's $1,000, before buying new cloth "cartridges" every 20 days.

-Thorn